Impulse coupling



Aug. 141, 1.923. 1,464,663

A. ROSNER IMPULSE COUPLING Filed July 22 1921 Fig. 6

INVENTOR ADOLPH ROSNER ATTORNEY Patented AugiiIl, I923.

Unitas stares I tter Parent cler cs.

anorirn nosnnn, or SPRINGFIELD, massncn'osnrrs, assrenon T AMERICAN BOSCH maennro conrona'rron, or srnmemnrn, nessacnusn'rrs; a ooaroae'rron" or NEW rons.

IMPULSE COUPLING.

Application filed. .l'uly 22,

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ADoLPH RosNER, a citizen-of the United States,residing at 4: "Ventura Street, Springfield, in the county 5 of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Impulse Couplings; and I do here.- by declare the followin to be a full, clear,' and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same. r

The resent invention relates to. an impulse coupling of the type-adapted. for use with .magnetos for ignition systems, and

which comprises driving'and driven members and an impelling spring arranged to be stressed upon angular displacement of such members. I

Heretofore, such impulse couplings were constructed from machined parts or drop forged members, such that thecoupling as' a whole involved a large number of step'sin, a long process of manufacture, and also a high cost of production.. In accordance with this part of the invention, I have con structed an-impulse coupling with an encasing structure comprising a sheet metal mem- I ber, preferably struck-lip, forming a part so of the driving member, and'a sheet metal releasing member connected to and rotatable with the driving member, the releasing member cooperating with a locking member to release the same from the driven member.

The encasing structure accordingly comprises a pair of sheet metal members, one" of which may be fastened to the driving member and one may have a-bearing upon the'driven member, whereby the encasing structure is maintained in co-axial alignment as well as possessing rigidity against the impact or blows received by the coupling. In the specific construction of the coupling hereindescribed, one of the members is in the form of a cup fastened to.

the driving member and having, in its open. L end, an enclosing-member which has a bearing on the driven .member, the enclosing I member fitting within the open end of the cup member, so as to give to thecup "member rigidity during the releasing action of the releasing member, the releasing member being rotatable with the cup member for periodically releasing the locking member. With such construction, the coupling 1.921.- Serial 486,910.

as a whole is greatly reduced in weight and requires fewer manufacturing operations at a greatly reduced cost.

In the prior devices, the locking pawl was usually a machined or forged member, andaccordingly, was also more costly to manufacture and more difficult to produceaccurately. WVhether or not the/encasing structure be of sheet metal members, Ihave constructed the locking pawl of my coupling of sheet metal, preferably having a cam engaging flange adapted to lock the drivenmember during a predetermined angular movement of the driving member. In prior devices, the locking pawl in its arresting position was usually supported uponthe periphery otthe driven member, and the pawl thus received considerable 'wear, so that after wearing toa certain extent, the time of disengagement of the locking pawl was somewhat varied. In accordance with this part of the invention, Ihave constructed the support for the locking member with a-rest member adapted to'hold the locking member in locking position, but $0 out of rubbing contact with the periphery of the driven member. H In the accompanying drawings which show, as an example, a hand-set impulse coupling for a-magneto having one impulse per rotation 1' is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a coupling: Fig. 2 is an end view of the coupling with an encasing member thereof in transverse section; Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2' with the part-51in a difi'erent position of op eration; Fig. at is a top plan view of the coupling assemblyshowing broken portions.

of the supporting posts; Fig. ,5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the arrangement for counter clockwise operation; Fig. 6 is an end view in detail of the coupling. hub piece on thedriven member; Fig. 7 is a side view of the supporting strap; Fig. is a view in elevation of the driving member with a .portion shown broken away; and Fig. 9 is a detail view of the releasing member. 1., The coupling is connected to a driving m5 shaft 1 upon the end of which is mounted a flexible coupling 2 of any suitable construction, such flexible coupling having an end member 3 to which ,issecured one of the encasing members 4 of the impulse cou- M0 pling,

means of rivets 5, as is more clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing. The encasing member'4 is of cup shape having an axial flange 6 and a web portion 7 provided with .a central aperture bearing u on a portion of the driven -member, as wil' be more fully hereinafter described."

The driven member comprises a driven shaft 8 vwhich is a part of the'rotor of the magneto and is providedwith a tapered end 9 upon which is keyed a coupling hub 10, the latter being held snugly into place by a nut '11 threaded to the threaded end 12 of the shaft 8 and havinga thrust engagement with a shoulder 13 formed within the coupling hub 10. The nut 11 maybe maintained in position by a lock socket-screw 14 threaded into the nut 11 and binding with the end 12 of the shaft. It will thus be observed that the web portion 7 bears upon the ex; terior surface of the nut 11 between the end 15- of the hub 10 and the head portion 16 and having its-periphery '27 fittin r within the open end-pt the cup 4.1 so

'formedupon the nut 11 ,'the head 16 extending into a central aperture formed in the end member 30f the flexible coupling,- the latter being otherwise provided with an internalbore 17. v a H Between the shank portion 18 of the coupling hub and the flange 6 of the cup member 4 is located a flat spiral spring 19 having a hooked end 20 thereof extending through a slot 21 formed in the flange 6, and its inner hooked end 22 thereof fitting i th the radial slot 23 provided in the shank portion 18, suchthat the spring will normally resist angular displacementof the cup 4. and the hub 10 whenever the latter is, 40

for an time, held in stationary position while't e cup 4 is rotated with the coupling 2 upon the driving action of the shaft 1. The hub 10 has a head portion 24' providing a shoulder25 against which rests an enclosmember or plate 26 of sheet metal which .is centrally apertured to afl'ord a bearing upon the shank 18 'of-the coupling hub 10 just posed between the .margin of-the 'flangejfl and the ,shank of the coupling head, acts as a supporting, member for the cup 4 at the time the latter tends to be thrown out of alignment by the impacts or blows received by the coupling, as will more clearlyhereinafter appear.

i To the member 26 is secured a releasing member 28 which is a sheet metal punching, or "formed of sheet metal, of generally circular form. This member is provided with a plurality of apertures 29, registering with 26, through which extend rivets 30 for se iaeaeee such encasing member .being pref-l suitable part of I twill. thus'b'e seen that :this member, being interupon the post with an aruate I gaging ends 48 and 49, one end" being adapt the member 26, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The releasing member 28 has oppositely disposed radial extending portions 31 and tending abutment portion '33 of arc-shape, the latter being adapted to angularly oscillate between the shoulders 34 and 35 of the coupling hub, as is clearly shown in'lliigs. 2, 3, 5 and 6 of the drawing, thus permitting relative angular movement between the releasing member. 10. The portion 31 of the releasing member has a curved cam surface 36 of the proper inafter more fully described. The flange' 6 of the cup member 4: is provided with a pair of radially extending arc-shaped I notches 37 and 38 into which respectively fit Above the driven shaft and a portion of the coupling hub is'located a pair of horizontal supporting posts 39 and40 of similar construction, such posts being secured in 32 and an inwardly ex- I 28 and the coupling hub form to co-act with the locking pawl hereany suitable manner to the frame or other the magneto, such as the pole shoes thereof, with the outer ends of the posts extending partly over the coupling.

One of these posts, such as the post 39, is referably made of brass, while the other post may be made of cast iron'or steel, as

desired, the post 39 being made of brass for the purpose of preventing magnetic flux through the supporting structure, The free ends of the posts are connected together by astrap member 41 which also may be made of brass, for the further purpose of preventing magnetic flux through the supporting H structure. This strap member is preferably formed with a pair of bosses 42 and 43 at or nearthe ends thereof and surrounding the tree extending end" portions of the posts,

such end portions'bein'g threaded to receive nuts 44 and 45.

comprises a weight or pawl 46 which is preferably in the form'of a sectorand pivotally mounted upon one-of the posts 39 or '40, it being. shown in -Figs. 4 as being mounted boss 42. This pawl is 'inadefrom" sheet metal; preferably ressed'up, and provided ange 47 having .cam ened' for usefor clockwise operation of the coupling and the other for counter clock- The locking mechanism of the-coupling 39',between the nut 44 and the I Wise operation thereof. The strap 41 may "also be provided. at a central port1on theresimilar apertures provided in the member of with a pressed-up. projection 50 against i which the pawl may slightly rub or contact curely fastening the releasing member to inorder to= maintam the pawl in properly.

locking pawl 46 in lockingposition, as 1s racemes w a erally projecting rest or'supportinglu'gs 51 and 52 which are adapted to support the clearly shown in Fig. 3, the. locking pawl resting upon one of the rests 51 or 52.when being. engaged with the shoulder 34 or. 35, as the case may be,'of the coupling hub and 2 not resting upon the coupling hub itself.

In operation, the shaft 2 is continually driven from an internal combustion engine, usually from a cam shaft thereof, and 1t drives therewith,-the flexible coupling 2 with the end member 3 and the cup member 4. When it is desired to put the impulsecoupling in operative condition, the locking pawl 46, which normally inits inoperative position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing, may be manually lifted and turned in the full line position shown in I Fig. 2 of the drawing. In the latter position, the locking pawl rests uponothe lug 51 so as to present an engaging portion. 53

thereof in the path of travel of the shoulder 34 of the coupling hub 10,- Assuming the latter to be in a position s iown in Fig. 2

where the shoulder 34 engages with the en gaging portion 53 ofthe locking pawl, and the driving members 1, 2,3 and 4 are rotating, the spring 19, by reason of its connection with the-cup 4, is stressed and at the same time, the releasing member28, with its .cam engaging portion 31, is rotated from the position thereof shown in Fig. 2tothe position thereof shown in Fig.3 of'the drawing.

" In the latter position, thecam surface .36

comes into engagement with the end 49 of the locking pawl and gradually rotates the locking pawl inclockwise direction about its pivotal mounting upon the post 39. It will thus be observed that upon further movement of the releasing member 28 and the. cam portion 31, thelocking pawlwill reach a still higher position,*such..that its engaging portion 53 will become disengagedfrom the shoulder 34 of the coupling hub. Upon such'disengagement, the spring 19, by reason of its connection with the hub 10 will,

immediately angularly impel the hub mem- Qber 10 in the direction of rotation of the driving member until the shoulder 34 contacts with an end portion or shoulder 54 of the stop portion 33of the releasing member.

The driv ng members 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the hub 10, as well as shaft 8, continue to rotate at a low speed, after which the above o'pera-' tion is repeated. lt will be thus observed that as the cam member 31 passes from un der the end 49 of the locking pawlfthe latter may again fall by gravity until it rests upon the lug 51 in position to again engage the shoulder 34, as the latter returns into the position shown in Fig. 2. \Vhen, how-' ever, ignitionis effective in the internal combustion engine, the latter will increase its speed and consequently, the driving members 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the coupling. At a predetermined speed of rotation thereof, the cam surface 36 ofthe' releasing member will contact with the end 49 of the locking pawl with sufiicient impact or force to overcome the gravitational force of the locking pawl and to impart to it sufficient momentum that it WllhIIlOVG into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, the locking pawl thus .being thrown out of operationaltogether. The coupling will then continue to operate as a single unitary device, the spring 19 being sufficiently strong to permit a direct drive between the members-without angular relative variation.

' When it is desired, however, to operate the impulse coupling in a counter-clockwise di-,

"bther end 55 pf the pawl to the shoulder 35 of the coupling hub 10 when the latter is rotated in counter-clockwise direction. In order that the spring may be operative in the counter-clockwise direction, the-same is removed from the encasing structure and reversed in position, as is clearlyv shown by the position of the broken portions of the spring shown in Fig. 5 of 'the drawing. At the same time, the releasing member is also removed from the notches formed in the cup member and reversed in position, so

as to locate the stop segment 33 on the opposite side of the center of the coupling, as

is also. clearly shown inl ig. 5: In this position of the parts, the cam portion 31,

as it rotates counter-clockwise, will engage with the cam contacting end 48 of the flange 47 of the pawl, so as toraise the same about its new pivotal mounting. At a given high speed of rotation, the impact'of .the cam surface 36 with the end 48 will be sufficient to'cast the fpawlinto inoperative position, similarlyto whenthe parts were arranged 'for clockwise operation. Further details of operation in counter-clockwise direction is deemed to be clear from theabove descrip tion, in connection with the operation of the parts when arranged for clockwise operation.

LHaving thus described my invention what 1 claim is:

1; In an impulse coupling comprisin driving and driven members and an impe ling spring arranged to be stressed upon angular displacement of said members, the combination -of an encasing structure comprising a sheet metal member forming part of the driving member, a'locking member for saiddriven member, and a sheet metal releasing member connected to and rotatable with said driving member, said releasing member having means 'for releasing the looking member and also having means for arresting the driven member. after release.

2. In an impulse coupling comprising driving and driven members and an impel-i ling spring arranged to be stressed upon angular displacement of said members, the combination of an encasing structure comprising a struck-up sheet metal member forming part of the driving member, a locking member for said driven member, and a sheet metal releasing member connected to and rotatable with said driving member, said releasing member havlng means forreleasmg the locking member and' also having means for arresting the driven member after release. 7

tained in co-axial alignment, and a locking member for said drlven member, one of said sheet metal members being fastened to said driving member, and one carrying a releasing element for the locking member.

4:. In ah impulse coupling comprising rotatable driving and driven members and an impel'ling spring arranged to be stressed upon angular displacement of said members, the-combination of an encasing structure for saids'pring, said structure comprising a cup member fastened to said driving member and an enclosing member having a. bearing on said driven. member and fitting. withinthe open end of said cup member, and a locking. member for said driven member, said enclosing member carrying a releasing cam for tlie locking member. I

5. In an impulse coupling comprising:

driving and driven members and an impelling spring arranged to be stressed upon angular displacement of said members, the combination of a locking mechanism therefor comprisinga sheet metal locking pawl for locking-thedriven member during a predetermined angular movement of the: driv;

ing member, anda releasin member connected to and rotatable wit said driving member for releasing said locking pawl from said driven member, said releasing member having means for releasing the locking member and also driven member after release.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature,

ADQLPH R08 ER.

having means to arrest the 

